Written Answers Friday 26 January 2007

Scottish Executive

Coast Protection

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21076 and S2W-21077 by Rhona Brankin on 6 December 2006, what steps have been taken to reduce the time taken to assess, plan and build new defences against coastal erosion and storm damage.

Sarah Boyack: Primary responsibility for preventing coastal erosion of land by the sea lies with the landowner. Local authorities have discretionary powers to deal with coastal erosion and it is for the local authorities to bring forward schemes in the first instance. In taking forward such schemes, local authorities are bound by the statutory process required by the Coast Protection Act 1949, as are the Scottish ministers. At present we have no plans to review this statutory process.

Coast Protection

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21076 and S2W-21077 by Rhona Brankin on 6 December 2006, what specific funding has been allocated to tackle storm and coastal erosion in the Western Isles in respect of the storm of January 2005.

Sarah Boyack: My answer to answer to question S2W 31015 on 26 January 2007, sets out the process under the Coastal Protection Act 1949 with regard to coast protection works. As Rhona Brankin stated in her reply to question S2W-21076, answered on 6 December 2005, primary responsibility for preventing erosion to land by the sea lies with the landowner although local authorities have discretionary powers to take forward coast protection schemes to prevent erosion to the land.

  All answers to written parliamentary questions are available on the Parliament’s website, the search facility for which can be found at: http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/webapp/wa.search.

Coast Protection

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21076 and S2W-21077 by Rhona Brankin on 6 December 2006, whether it will explain the procedure and time required to authorise applications made by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to undertake remedial action following storm damage and coastal erosion caused by the January 2005 storm.

Sarah Boyack: The Coast Protection Act 1949 sets out the statutory process to be followed for the undertaking of coast protection works, other than for maintenance or repair. Subject to the provisions of the act, a local authority proposing to carry out any coast protection work must publish notice of the proposal, including an estimate of the cost of the work and an indication of the effect of the work, in local newspapers. There is a five week period for making objections against approval of the scheme on limited grounds. Thereafter ministers may approve the works, or direct the local authority not to carry out the work, or may impose such modifications or conditions as they deem fit. Grants of 80% of eligible costs are available for approved schemes which meet our criteria.

  Prior to embarking on the statutory process, local authorities may choose to discuss their proposal informally with the Executive to ensure that the business case for funding support meets the Executive’s environmental, technical and economic criteria.

Coast Protection

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2F-2643 by Mr Jack McConnell on 11 January 2007 ( Official Report c. 31005) whether there is any review in progress to assess the efficiency of Executive responses to storm and coastal erosion.

Sarah Boyack: No review of the efficiency of the Executive’s response to storm and coastal erosion is underway. Primary responsibility for preventing coastal erosion of land by the sea lies with the landowner although local authorities have discretionary powers to deal with coastal erosion. It is for the local authorities to bring forward schemes in the first instance.

Costal Protection

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answers to questions S2W-21076 and S2W-21077 by Rhona Brankin on 6 December 2006, whether it will list the applications made by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar for grant aid to tackle storm damage and coastal erosion due to the January 2005 storm, including the dates of receipt and disposal and the decisions arrived at on each application.

Sarah Boyack: Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has approached the Executive with six coast protection schemes. Discussions are on-going. The scheme at Balivanich has met the Executive’s economic, environmental and technical criteria but Comhairle nan Eilean Siar has not submitted the scheme for approval.

  The following table lists the six proposals.

  

 Name of Scheme
 Date First Approached Executive
 Current Situation


 Ludag
 April 2006
 On-going informal discussion with the Executive to ensure proposal meets criteria


 Pol na Craan
 April 2006
 On-going informal discussion with the Executive to ensure the proposal meets criteria


 Balivanich
 April 2006
 June 2006, letter sent to Comhairle confirming that the proposal forms a satisfactory basis for proceeding to the formal stage.


 Gualan Island
 April 2006
 On-going informal discussion with the Executive to ensure proposal meets criteria


 Stoney Bridge
 April 2006
 On-going informal discussion with the Executive to ensure proposal meets criteria


 Craigston
 April 2006
 On-going informal discussion with the Executive to ensure proposal meets criteria

Dentistry

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many dental practitioners have offered NHS dental services in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is given in table 1.1 of NHS General Dental Services Information a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41550).

Dentistry

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adults have been registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is given in table 1.2 of NHS General Dental Services Information a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41550).

Dentistry

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many children have been registered with an NHS dentist in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is given in table 1.3 of NHS General Dental Services Information a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41550).

Dentistry

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many adult NHS dental patients have been deregistered in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Lewis Macdonald: Separate data are not maintained on dental patients who are deregistered as NHS patients by general dental practitioners; these will be included among those patients whose registration status indicates "withdrawn".

  Data on the number of adult NHS general dental service patients whose registration status indicates "withdrawn" in the year in question are robust from 2000-01 only and are provided in table 1.4 of NHS General Dental Services Information a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41550). Some registrations may have been withdrawn because a patient has registered with another NHS dentist.

Dentistry

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many child NHS dental patients have been deregistered in each year since 1999, broken down by NHS board and showing year-on-year percentage changes.

Lewis Macdonald: Separate data are not maintained on dental patients who are deregistered as NHS patients by general dental practitioners; these will be included among those patients whose registration status indicates "withdrawn".

  Data on the number of child NHS general dental service patients whose registration status indicates "withdrawn" in the year in question are robust from 2000-01 only and are provided in table 1.5 of NHS General Dental Services Information a copy of which has been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41550). Some registrations may have been withdrawn because a patient has registered with another NHS dentist.

Eating Disorders

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many (a) men and (b) women have been treated for eating disorders in each NHS board area in each year since 1999, broken down by condition for which they were treated.

Lewis Macdonald: The information requested is not held centrally. Tables from Information and Statistics Division Scotland showing the number of patients discharged from general and psychiatric hospitals with a diagnosis of eating disorder are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41449).

Eating Disorders

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps are being taken to raise awareness about eating disorders in men among health professionals and the general public in order that sufferers of these conditions can be identified at as early a stage as possible when treatment is most effective.

Lewis Macdonald: Current undergraduate mental health nursing programmes address the subject of eating disorders and their prevalence in both men and women, as well as its aetiology and treatment.

  NHS Education for Scotland have work in process to address training needs for NHS staff dealing with eating disorders in children and young people. This focus is aimed at addressing the issue early, so that young people who are vulnerable or at risk are identified and have access to appropriate treatment as early as possible. It is anticipated that some of this work will provide resources and guidance that will be applicable to adults with eating disorders.

  Appropriate training and awareness raising is also highlighted in the NHS Quality Improvement Scotland Recommendations for health care professionals on the management and treatment of eating disorders.

Eating Disorders

Ms Maureen Watt (North East Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive whether there are any eating disorder specialists who work specifically with men suffering from eating disorders and whether such men receive different treatment to that given to female sufferers.

Lewis Macdonald: All NHS secondary and specialist care services offer care, support and advice to both genders. Treatment will vary according to individually assessed needs.

  NHS Quality Improvement Scotland published recommendations for the management and treatment of eating disorders last year (Bib. number 41194). We continue our work with NHS boards and other care partners to improve the provision and quality of inpatient and specialist eating disorder services in Scotland.

Energy Efficiency

Shiona Baird (North East Scotland) (Green): To ask the Scottish Executive which stakeholders it has consulted in respect of its forthcoming energy efficiency strategy.

Nicol Stephen: In developing an Energy Efficiency and Microgeneration strategy, the Executive has spoken to a range of stakeholders including: Friends of the Earth Scotland, Scottish Council for Development and Industry, Building Research Establishment, Scottish Renewables Forum, COSLA, Communities Scotland, Energy Saving Trust Scotland and the Carbon Trust Scotland. Meetings with stakeholders continue.

Environment

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to S2F-2643 by Mr Jack McConnell on 11 January 2007 ( Official Report c. 31005), what resources were offered to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar to progress its bids for storm mitigation schemes.

Sarah Boyack: There is no provision for storm mitigation schemes, hence no resources were offered to Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.

Environment

Mr Alasdair Morrison (Western Isles) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will publish the Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessments guidance.

Allan Wilson: The Peat Landslide Hazard and Risk Assessments guidance will be published on the Executive’s website today. The website link is as follows: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/161862 .

  The publication was developed in consultation with key stakeholders and provides best practice guidance on the methods to identify, mitigate and manage peat slide hazards and risks, in respect of section 36 electricity generation projects.

  Hardcopies of the guidance have been placed in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41566) and are also available on request from the Scottish Executive Energy Consents Unit, 2nd floor, Meridian Court, Glasgow, G2 6AT or by e-mail at energyconsents@scotland.gsi.gov.uk or telephone Howard Steele on 0141 242 5795. The guidance is also available from Blackwell’s book shop.

Fisheries

Dr Elaine Murray (Dumfries) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it would be possible to repeal section 26(2) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 by means of an amendment to the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill.

Sarah Boyack: It is not possible to repeal section (26)(2) of the Salmon and Freshwater Fisheries (Consolidation) (Scotland) Act 2003 through the Aquaculture and Fisheries (Scotland) Bill. However, we do intend to examine existing arrangements in the Annan and Solway as part of our work on the future of freshwater fisheries management in Scotland. A future legislative opportunity will have to be sought to enact any new management proposals, once they have been developed in detail by the Executive and the salmon and freshwater fisheries community.

Further and Higher Education

Euan Robson (Roxburgh and Berwickshire) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will give details of any changes to the rates of support for further and higher education students which will apply for the academic year 2007-08.

Nicol Stephen: I am delighted to announce the new rates of support for students in further and higher education for academic year 2007-08. I am today placing in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre (Bib. number 41325) details of the rates of those loans, bursaries and grants, which will be available to eligible undergraduate and postgraduate students in full-time higher education.

  A general uprating factor of 2.33%, in line with inflation, will be applied to the existing schemes of support in 2007-08, thus maintaining their value in real terms. This increase is consistent with that announced by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills in September 2006 for English and Welsh domiciled students.

  The Scottish Funding Council (SFC) has also agreed to maintain the alignment between the further and higher education sectors by, where appropriate, uprating the support available to further education students by 2.33%.

General Practitioners

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP partnerships have been dissolved since 2003.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not collated centrally, however NHS boards have indicated that GP partnership dissolutions since 2003, have been very rare in Scotland.

General Practitioners

Carolyn Leckie (Central Scotland) (SSP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many GP partnerships which have been dissolved since 2003 have then been tendered openly, allowing groups other than existing GPs in the NHS board area to submit a tender.

Andy Kerr: This information is not collated centrally but I understand that the number of GP partnership dissolutions in Scotland since 2003 is very low and we are aware of only one instance that has resulted in the work going to open tender.

Housing

Stewart Stevenson (Banff and Buchan) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the average house price was in each local authority area in each year since 1999.

Rhona Brankin: The following table 1 provides the count of sales, median and mean price for house sales for each local authority area for the years 1999 and 2000. The following table 2 shows provides the same information for the years 2001 and 2002. The following table 3 provides the same information for the years 2003 and 2004. The following table 4 provides the same information for 2005. The analysis uses information provided by the Land Value Information Unit (LVIU) at Paisley University. LVIU in turn source their data from Registers of Scotland. The count and median relates to all sales recorded within the Local Authority area in the specified time period. The mean value excludes all sales with a value of less than £20,000 and over £1 million with the aim of excluding non market sales and non-residential sales.

  

 Table 1
 1999
 2000


 Local Authority
 Count
 Median
 Mean
 Count
 Median
 Mean


 Aberdeen City
 6,618
£ 53,500
£ 70,083
 6,211
£ 55,000
£ 73,826


 Aberdeenshire
 4,640
£ 60,000
£ 74,620
 4,909
£ 60,000
£ 76,230


 Angus
 2,402
£ 46,875
£ 59,470
 2,355
£ 47,000
£ 61,433


 Argyll and Bute
 1,957
£ 46,000
£ 66,228
 1,717
£ 52,000
£ 71,407


 Clackmannanshire
 995
£ 40,000
£ 55,679
 1,038
£ 40,750
£ 58,201


 Dumfries and Galloway
 2,918
£ 44,500
£ 60,832
 3,121
£ 44,000
£ 61,310


 Dundee City
 3,058
£ 40,550
£ 56,379
 3,431
£ 39,000
£ 53,811


 East Ayrshire
 1,398
£ 36,000
£ 54,520
 2,963
£ 35,200
£ 54,213


 East Dunbartonshire
 2,232
£ 64,500
£ 81,278
 2,370
£ 70,000
£ 89,831


 East Lothian
 2,324
£ 57,500
£ 78,982
 2,355
£ 60,000
£ 88,369


 East Renfrewshire
 2,302
£ 70,503
£ 89,733
 2,362
£ 71,450
£ 95,790


 Edinburgh, City of
 14,834
£ 70,000
£ 91,305
 14,606
£ 73,000
£ 98,525


 Eilean Siar
 253
£ 30,000
£ 43,732
 255
£ 35,000
£ 46,912


 Falkirk
 3,313
£ 42,950
£ 55,025
 3,750
£ 41,000
£ 58,099


 Fife
 7,599
£ 42,000
£ 59,766
 8,725
£ 44,500
£ 62,890


 Glasgow City
 15,268
£ 43,000
£ 59,449
 16,824
£ 45,000
£ 63,717


 Highland
 4,597
£ 45,000
£ 59,814
 4,744
£ 45,000
£ 61,349


 Inverclyde
 1,976
£ 38,000
£ 58,402
 2,295
£ 40,000
£ 61,237


 Midlothian
 1,713
£ 53,000
£ 71,705
 1,675
£ 55,000
£ 77,140


 Moray
 1,544
£ 47,000
£ 58,791
 1,542
£ 46,000
£ 58,645


 North Ayrshire
 1,818
£ 37,500
£ 54,234
 3,321
£ 36,750
£ 54,774


 North Lanarkshire
 7,215
£ 38,100
£ 51,323
 7,902
£ 37,781
£ 54,096


 Orkney Islands
 388
£ 38,350
£ 47,870
 406
£ 43,375
£ 52,674


 Perth and Kinross
 3,431
£ 58,000
£ 74,932
 3,416
£ 59,999
£ 79,133


 Renfrewshire
 4,285
£ 43,000
£ 59,146
 4,515
£ 44,500
£ 62,350


 Scottish Borders
 2,263
£ 43,500
£ 69,935
 2,358
£ 44,000
£ 75,408


 Shetland Islands
 353
£ 32,000
£ 45,794
 340
£ 35,000
£ 51,979


 South Ayrshire
 1,550
£ 51,000
£ 67,119
 2,909
£ 50,550
£ 67,603


 South Lanarkshire
 8,008
£ 43,000
£ 59,174
 8,148
£ 44,000
£ 61,614


 Stirling
 2,232
£ 59,500
£ 79,590
 2,287
£ 60,000
£ 89,739


 West Dunbartonshire
 1,764
£ 38,000
£ 50,529
 2,074
£ 40,000
£ 51,143


 West Lothian
 4,007
£ 46,500
£ 61,877
 4,461
£ 50,000
£ 67,245



  

 Table 2
 2001
 2002


 Local Authority
 Count
 Median
 Mean
 Count
 Median
 Mean


 Aberdeen City
 6,630
£ 56,250
£ 74,787
 7,588
£ 58,417
£ 79,064


 Aberdeenshire
 5,257
£ 60,000
£ 79,249
 6,533
£ 65,995
£ 84,015


 Angus
 2,488
£ 50,000
£ 63,829
 2,895
£ 52,000
£ 68,290


 Argyll and Bute
 2,426
£ 46,500
£ 71,887
 2,526
£ 51,198
£ 77,918


 Clackmannanshire
 1,176
£ 44,625
£ 63,928
 1,364
£ 43,000
£ 67,555


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3,279
£ 47,000
£ 63,145
 3,725
£ 48,950
£ 69,032


 Dundee City
 3,593
£ 42,000
£ 57,783
 3,880
£ 45,000
£ 62,494


 East Ayrshire
 2,902
£ 37,500
£ 58,440
 3,130
£ 37,088
£ 60,193


 East Dunbartonshire
 2,186
£ 71,000
£ 95,122
 2,327
£ 80,000
£ 108,220


 East Lothian
 2,512
£ 65,500
£ 90,948
 2,776
£ 74,000
£ 102,582


 East Renfrewshire
 2,386
£ 79,000
£ 104,176
 2,178
£ 88,850
£ 120,335


 Edinburgh, City of
 15,447
£ 80,000
£ 106,303
 15,800
£ 96,787
£ 126,992


 Eilean Siar
 257
£ 37,000
£ 47,778
 446
£ 38,000
£ 48,722


 Falkirk
 3,778
£ 43,000
£ 59,567
 4,532
£ 45,000
£ 66,634


 Fife
 9,306
£ 45,000
£ 66,294
 9,987
£ 48,000
£ 72,904


 Glasgow City
 17,163
£ 49,000
£ 68,067
 17,997
£ 56,000
£ 77,892


 Highland
 4,825
£ 50,000
£ 65,929
 5,163
£ 56,000
£ 73,236


 Inverclyde
 2,136
£ 41,000
£ 67,495
 2,116
£ 44,750
£ 68,452


 Midlothian
 1,637
£ 59,995
£ 82,293
 1,771
£ 65,125
£ 86,667


 Moray
 1,899
£ 47,000
£ 58,584
 2,040
£ 49,500
£ 64,332


 North Ayrshire
 3,378
£ 37,850
£ 55,432
 3,865
£ 40,000
£ 61,944


 North Lanarkshire
 7,975
£ 40,000
£ 56,852
 8,632
£ 42,236
£ 62,970


 Orkney Islands
 354
£ 41,750
£ 52,355
 360
£ 44,000
£ 54,069


 Perth and Kinross
 3,467
£ 60,000
£ 82,235
 3,998
£ 65,000
£ 90,047


 Renfrewshire
 4,617
£ 42,500
£ 63,530
 5,134
£ 45,000
£ 69,261


 Scottish Borders
 2,628
£ 46,000
£ 77,589
 3,025
£ 52,000
£ 89,086


 Shetland Islands
 313
£ 40,000
£ 52,636
 324
£ 45,017
£ 56,944


 South Ayrshire
 3,040
£ 52,000
£ 71,489
 3,224
£ 56,300
£ 78,724


 South Lanarkshire
 7,731
£ 46,000
£ 65,956
 8,767
£ 49,000
£ 73,812


 Stirling
 2,385
£ 60,000
£ 94,632
 2,555
£ 72,000
£ 103,178


 West Dunbartonshire
 2,132
£ 41,000
£ 54,329
 2,317
£ 43,000
£ 61,713


 West Lothian
 4,587
£ 52,995
£ 69,055
 4,952
£ 55,018
£ 76,394



  

Table 3
2003
2004


Local Authority
Count
Median
Mean
Count
Median
Mean


Aberdeen City
7,657
£ 60,000
£ 86,305
5,767
£ 70,000
£ 95,745


Aberdeenshire
6,221
£ 75,000
£ 95,662
4,624
£ 86,617
£107,206


Angus
2,846
£ 60,000
£ 81,468
2,163
£ 68,000
£ 92,360


Argyll and Bute
2,563
£ 55,100
£ 90,427
2,176
£ 70,000
£109,477


Clackmannanshire
1,589
£ 47,000
£ 72,297
1,177
£ 64,750
£ 89,167


Dumfries and Galloway
3,677
£ 57,000
£ 81,050
3,667
£ 77,950
£101,477


Dundee City
3,921
£ 50,000
£ 68,607
2,999
£ 55,750
£ 77,767


East Ayrshire
3,312
£ 41,000
£ 68,244
2,354
£ 54,500
£ 79,718


East Dunbartonshire
2,721
£ 91,127
£123,005
2,501
£118,500
£145,808


East Lothian
2,774
£ 90,181
£124,355
2,552
£110,000
£144,523


East Renfrewshire
2,123
£ 98,000
£133,908
2,182
£126,025
£159,194


Edinburgh, City of
16,495
£115,000
£143,009
16,349
£135,000
£162,018


Eilean Siar
451
£ 39,650
£ 50,892
300
£ 51,075
£ 63,948


Falkirk
4,774
£ 52,000
£ 74,332
4,853
£ 67,100
£ 89,976


Fife
11,110
£ 56,000
£ 84,231
10,890
£ 69,000
£ 96,151


Glasgow City
18,792
£ 69,625
£ 94,414
17,865
£ 85,500
£109,228


Highland
5,306
£ 65,000
£ 86,989
5,003
£ 83,250
£104,935


Inverclyde
2,148
£ 47,000
£ 79,624
2,108
£ 60,000
£ 97,681


Midlothian
2,032
£ 80,000
£106,156
1,788
£ 92,875
£120,111


Moray
1,967
£ 60,000
£ 77,048
1,588
£ 70,000
£ 86,616


North Ayrshire
3,871
£ 44,000
£ 69,363
3,022
£ 57,500
£ 82,259


North Lanarkshire
8,906
£ 45,000
£ 68,304
9,200
£ 58,500
£ 79,303


Orkney Islands
384
£ 48,000
£ 61,781
384
£ 60,000
£ 74,631


Perth and Kinross
4,264
£ 75,000
£103,817
3,896
£ 90,000
£117,383


Renfrewshire
5,430
£ 53,011
£ 78,255
5,166
£ 65,000
£ 92,142


Scottish Borders
2,926
£ 65,000
£106,259
2,446
£ 82,850
£121,487


Shetland Islands
320
£ 46,000
£ 60,237
371
£ 60,000
£ 71,032


South Ayrshire
3,446
£ 65,000
£ 92,520
2,516
£ 76,000
£103,205


South Lanarkshire
9,518
£ 57,000
£ 82,290
9,552
£ 71,000
£ 97,073


Stirling
2,390
£ 83,000
£118,813
2,425
£ 96,000
£135,697


West Dunbartonshire
2,448
£ 45,000
£ 67,539
2,463
£ 60,000
£ 80,923


West Lothian
5,486
£ 66,000
£ 88,913
5,329
£ 85,000
£103,737



  

 Table 4
 2005


 Local Authority
 Count
 Median
 Mean


 Aberdeen City
 7,874
£ 80,000 
£114,104 


 Aberdeenshire
 6,151
£100,500 
£126,959 


 Angus
 3,103
£ 78,000 
£108,296 


 Argyll and Bute
 2,515
£ 85,000 
£127,331 


 Clackmannanshire
 1,705
£ 73,500 
£101,817 


 Dumfries and Galloway
 3,724
£ 85,000 
£116,599 


 Dundee City
 4,302
£ 65,166 
£ 91,865 


 East Ayrshire
 3,562
£ 64,995 
£ 95,344 


 East Dunbartonshire
 2,683
£130,000 
£169,477 


 East Lothian
 2,809
£125,000 
£160,809 


 East Renfrewshire
 2,220
£125,000 
£173,810 


 Edinburgh, City of
 16,267
£137,200 
£174,728 


 Eilean Siar
 378
£ 65,150 
£ 78,828 


 Falkirk
 5,301
£ 75,000 
£104,904 


 Fife
 11,550
£ 79,000 
£108,869 


 Glasgow City
 19,029
£ 92,000 
£122,378 


 Highland
 5,814
£ 97,500 
£119,713 


 Inverclyde
 2,254
£ 63,585 
£106,217 


 Midlothian
 1,766
£ 99,850 
£130,361 


 Moray
 2,320
£ 83,000 
£103,199 


 North Ayrshire
 4,371
£ 65,000 
£ 94,599 


 North Lanarkshire
 10,270
£ 67,000 
£ 93,187 


 Orkney Islands
 394
£ 80,100 
£ 98,791 


 Perth and Kinross
 4,137
£100,000 
£132,614 


 Renfrewshire
 5,466
£ 70,000 
£103,612 


 Scottish Borders
 2,829
£ 85,100 
£131,415 


 Shetland Islands
 355
£ 58,000 
£ 75,362 


 South Ayrshire
 3,492
£ 87,500 
£123,242 


 South Lanarkshire
 9,824
£ 79,000 
£112,392 


 Stirling
 2,580
£105,000 
£148,823 


 West Dunbartonshire
 2,698
£ 70,000 
£ 92,803 


 West Lothian
 5,122
£ 90,000 
£114,390

Justice

Trish Godman (West Renfrewshire) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what recent representations have been made to the Home Secretary anent the signing by Her Majesty’s Government of the Council of Europe’s convention on action against trafficking in human beings.

Cathy Jamieson: The Deputy Minister for Justice wrote to Vernon Coaker, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Policing, Security and Community Safety, in June 2006 to draw his attention to the debate on human trafficking in the Scottish Parliament on 25 May, and in particular to the fact that a number of members had expressed concern that the UK had not, as yet, signed the Council of Europe Convention on Trafficking in Human Beings.

  The Home Secretary set out the UK Government’s current position in answer to House of Commons PQ-114675 answered on 15 January 2007.

National Health Service

Shona Robison (Dundee East) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the total cost was of backlog maintenance in the NHS in each financial year since 1997-98.

Mr Andy Kerr: This information is not held centrally.

National Parks

Dr Sylvia Jackson (Stirling) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what economic, social and environmental benefits have arisen as a result of the designation and management of the Loch Lomond and the Trossachs National Park.

Sarah Boyack: The Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park was designated in 2002. To date there has not been an assessment of the economic, social and environmental benefits arising from the designation; while many of the benefits which the National Park designation sought to achieve will only be fully realised over a longer period of time, the National Park Authority, like other public bodies, will be subject to review after its first five years of operation and I envisage that that would provide a first opportunity for an assessment of the benefits which the designation has secured.

  In the meantime, the annual reports of the National Park Authority (copies of which are available in the Scottish Parliament Information Centre, Bib. numbers 31754, 36160, 39201 and 41312) provide a detailed account of the work which it has undertaken. For example, the National Park Authority was able to report in its 2005-06 annual Report and Accounts the achievement of launching a solar powered boat on Loch Lomond, the first of its kind in Scotland, capable of carrying wheelchairs and passengers.

Ports

Mr Kenny MacAskill (Lothians) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what organisation is responsible for monitoring, supervising and regulating pilotage in the Forth ports.

Tavish Scott: Forth Ports plc is the competent harbour authority for the Firth of Forth. It is responsible for regulating arrangements for pilotage on the Forth as required by the Pilotage Act 1987, and also for authorising pilots to conduct pilotage on the Forth. Part of this duty involves keeping the need for pilotage and the service provided under review.

Ports and Harbours

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what funding has been made available to (a) Orkney Islands Council, (b) Shetland Islands Council and (c) Highlands Council for port and harbour infrastructure developments in each year since 1999-2000.

Tavish Scott: The Scottish Executive has made £26.273 million available to Orkney Islands Council, Shetland Islands Council and The Highland Council towards ports and harbour infrastructure developments that support lifeline ferry services and emergency improvement works at fishing ports in their areas since 1999-2000, as detailed in the following table (£ Million):

  

 
 Orkney Islands Council
 Shetland Islands Council
 The Highland Council
 Total


 1999-2000
 0
 0
 0
 0


 2000-01
 0
 0
 0.247
 0.247


 2001-02
 0.491
 0
 0
 0.491


 2002-03
 11.429
 0
 3.195
 14.624


 2003-04
 4.430
 0
 1.863
 6.293


 2004-05
 0.748
 0
 1.236
 1.984


 2005-06
 0.383
 0
 1.387
 1.770


2006-07(to January 2007)
 0
 0.153
 0.711
 0.864


 Total
 17.481
 0.153
 8.639
 26.273

Prison Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what weekly financial penalties were imposed on HM Prison Inverness for being below the contracted level of 150 places at any points from 1 April 2006 to 31 December 2006 and how any such penalties were calculated.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  
The Scottish Prison Service does not operate a system of financial penalties.

Prison Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive by what method the Scottish Prison Service identifies efficiency gains when determining the levels of savings required of prison governors from their allocated budgets.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  
All parts of the service are required by me to keep expenditure under strict review and identify areas for savings which are then agreed with Trade Union partners. Once agreed these are reviewed by a director who decides whether or not the saving should be taken. Savings are only accepted if it is considered that agreed performance levels can be delivered in line with the establishment’s performance contract.

Prison Service

Rob Gibson (Highlands and Islands) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what steps the Scottish Prison Service (SPS) has taken to fill all current vacancies at prison governor and deputy governor level; whether the SPS has a succession planning strategy and, if so, whether this strategy has been revised.

Cathy Jamieson: I have asked Tony Cameron, Chief Executive of the Scottish Prison Service to respond. His response is as follows:

  
The SPS regularly reviews the senior management teams in establishments. As deemed appropriate, the SPS will initiate moves to satisfy individual personal and developmental preferences and organisational needs. The SPS has a succession planning strategy which is reviewed on an on-going basis.

Road Safety

Karen Gillon (Clydesdale) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive what plans it has to improve the safety of pedestrians and road users on the A702.

Tavish Scott: Transport Scotland monitors the safety performance of the trunk road network annually to identify accident cluster sites. Identified sites are prioritised for remedial action.

  In the case of the A702 a Route Accident Reduction Plan from Abington to Lothianburn is currently underway. This will examine the safety record of the route for all road users, including pedestrians. The study is due to be completed by March 2007 and will identify the potential for safety improvements on the route.

  Transport Scotland has operational responsibility for this area and can be contacted for more information if required.

Roads

Mr Charlie Gordon (Glasgow Cathcart) (Lab): To ask the Scottish Executive when it will award the main roadworks contract for the completion of the M74.

Tavish Scott: Subject to satisfactory completion of the tendering exercise which is currently underway, it is expected that the main roadworks contract will be awarded in the summer of this year.

Schools

Mike Pringle (Edinburgh South) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive whether it will investigate releasing for sale NHS-owned land in south Edinburgh to allow new schools to be built.

Mr Andy Kerr: Responsibility for the identification of surplus land rests with NHS boards, in this case NHS Lothian. I can, however, confirm that officials from the Health Department will investigate with NHS Lothian what land in South Edinburgh has been identified as surplus to operational need and that which is likely to become surplus in the near future and will liaise with colleagues within the Executive who are responsible for the provision of new schools.

Schools

Mr Jim Wallace (Orkney) (LD): To ask the Scottish Executive what specific funding has been (a) paid or (b) agreed to be paid to Orkney Islands Council for the maintenance, refurbishment and development of its school estate in each year since 1999-2000.

Hugh Henry: The Scottish Executive’s Schools Fund capital grant allocations to Orkney Islands Council are set out in the following table 1. The money is used for schools capital investment both large and small. In addition, the Executive has made an indicative offer of future revenue support towards the cost of a £50 million Orkney schools PPP project.

  In addition to these specific resources, authorities also have general resources at their disposal, principally through borrowing and capital receipts, for capital expenditure on infrastructure, including school buildings. The Executive provides loan charges support for such borrowing, which is not specific to particular services. Total gross capital expenditure by Orkney on education is set out in the following table 2. The authority also has discretion in the use of its current expenditure resources for smaller scale maintenance activities on school buildings in its area.

  Table 1: Schools Fund Capital Grant Allocations (£000)

  

 
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06
 2006-07
 2007-08


 Orkney
 169
 169
 252
 174
 227
 474
 598
 936
 655



  Table 2: Education - Total Gross Capital Expenditure (including payments funded from revenue) (£000)

  

 
 1999-2000
 2000-01
 2001-02
 2002-03
 2003-04
 2004-05
 2005-06


 Orkney
 6,250
 2,724
 2,503
 1,527
 1,229
 1,740
 3,043



  Source: As reported by local authorities on Capital Payment Returns (CPR5)

  Notes:

  1. Education includes nursery, primary, secondary and special schools

  2. Figures do not include expenditure on public private partnership (PPP) schemes, where the capital expenditure is incurred by the private sector partner, not the local authority. Authorities make annual payments to their PPP partners over the contract period in respect of capital works, services and on-going maintenance.

  3. Figures in table 2 include Schools Fund capital grant expenditure.

Schools

Richard Lochhead (Moray) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive what the outcome was of its recent talks with the Scottish Rural Schools Network that involved members of the Moray Forum.

Hugh Henry: My meeting with the network was useful and allowed their representatives to describe to me at first hand their concerns about some aspects of the way in which rural school closure proposals are considered by local authorities.

Scottish Fingerprint Service

Alex Neil (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive how many times the Head of the Scottish Fingerprint Service visited and met staff in the four Scottish fingerprint bureaux in (a) 2004, (b) 2005 and (c) 2006 and how many times he has visited the four bureaux since the publication in June 2006 of the Independent Counselling and Advisory Services’ report into the Scottish Fingerprint Service.

Cathy Jamieson: The operational detail requested is not held centrally.

Sport

Michael Matheson (Central Scotland) (SNP): To ask the Scottish Executive why the publication of the review of Sport 21 has been delayed and when it now expects the publication to take place.

Patricia Ferguson: The revised sports strategy is currently being finalised, I expect the revised strategy to be published early this year.

Wildlife

Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Con): To ask the Scottish Executive, further to the answer to question S2W-30110 by Rhona Brankin on 5 December 2006, what work is currently being undertaken on immunocontraception of grey squirrels, stating the amount of money that has been allocated to research and the species on which the work is based.

Sarah Boyack: The Forestry Commission Scotland (FCS) and Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH) are providing £103,000 of combined financial support, over the current financial year, to a Defra-led project that aims to test and adapt fertility control agents. These agents were initially developed for use in the USA on several wild and domestic species and the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) are currently investigating their suitability and effectiveness as a measure for grey squirrel control in Britain.